The latest traffic, travel, weather, crime and breaking news updates from The Chronicle, covering Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and Durham for Friday, 19 July 2013

The Chronicle's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Newcastle and North East traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Friday, July 19, 2013.

You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningChron to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.

Our Newcastle breaking news live blog begins at 06:30am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.

06:30am

Sarah Scott

Good morning all, reporter Sarah Scott here with the live news, travel and weather blog for Friday July 19, 2013.

Throughout the day we will be bringing you all the latest news as it happens around the North East - whether you're on your daily commute to work, want to know what's going on around your area, or simply to kill some time we have it all.

As always with the live blog, if you see or hear anything, get in touch - leave a comment on the blog below or get in touch with us directly through Twitter at @EveningChron.

Whatever it is you're doing today, stay safe and make sure you keep tuned in to see what's going in and around the North East of England.

06:34am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL:Following the issues on the Metro yesterday and all the delays, Metro has said everything is back to normal this morning.

Good morning, yesterdays over head line problem has been resolved and trains are running to all destinations.

NEWS: Fire crews from South Shields and Hebburn fire stations were called to Queen Elizabeth Court, in Brockley Whins, South Tyneside, at 11.08pm last night to a fire in a kitchen of a self-contained bed sit in sheltered accommodation. A woman in her 50s was alerted to the fire, caused by food left unattended in a pan, by the fire alarm. She extinguished the fire before the arrival of fire crews using a damp tea towel.

06:55am

Sarah Scott

NEWS: The fire service are reporting a relating quiet night with just a number of grass fires across Northumberland and Durham.

07:00am

Sarah Scott

NEWS: Fire crews from North Shields and Wallsend dealt with a fire at a two storey semi-detached house in Brantwood Avenue in West Monkseaton, North Tyneside, shortly before 8pm yesterday. The fire was in the first floor floor boards which were completely destroyed by the fire which also spread to the loft floor boards which were also destroyed. A water pipe in the property burst due to the heat and there was a large amount of water damage. Neighbours were alerted to the fire by alarms and contacted the fire service.

07:04am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: For those on the roads, the A1231 Queen Alexandra Bridge in Sunderland is busy but moving from the B1405 Pallion New Road junction.

TRAVEL: This is an important update for those on the roads, there has a been a two vehicle collision on the A1 Western Bypass north-bound which is blocking one lane at the Allerdene Bridge Works area. Approach with caution .

07:51am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: There is now queueing traffic on the A1 north-bound in Gateshead between the A167 Durham Road junction and Coalhouse Roundabout.

07:52am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: For those on the roads in Sunderland, the A183 Chester Road is busy but moving in-bound between the Westbourne Road junction and the A1231; then I have heard reports of queueing traffic on the exit slip road on the A1018 (Wearmouth Bridge) south-bound from the A1018.

08:02am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: Here are some update for those of you on the roads in County Durham. New Elvet in Durham is busy but moving in-bound at Leazes Bowl Roundabout; Hallgarth Street in Durham is busy but moving out-bound at the A177 junction; the B1198 Mill Lane in Shincliffe is busy but moving west-bound at the A177 junction; the A181 Gilesgate in Durham is busy but moving in-bound at the A690 Leazes Road junction; and the A181 Front Street in Durham is busy but moving in-bound around the Dragon Lane junction.

08:05am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: For anyone on the A1, there is slow traffic south-bound in Gateshead between Blaydon and Dunston Interchange.

08:20am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: For those on the roads in Newcastle, the A167 Ponteland Road is but moving in-bound at Cowgate Roundabout. Then at the A189 Redheugh Bridge, traffic is busy but moving in-bound from the A184 Askew Road junction to the A69.

08:29am

Sarah Scott

WEATHER: We could see the weather cools slightly in the North East this weekend according to the Met Office. Today, we will haveanother dry day with good spells of sunshine, although areas of mist and low cloud may affect some coasts, especially later. Maximum temperature could reach 24 °C. But tomorrow the day will start quite overcast, however the sun will gradually break through across most inland places, but cloud and mist will linger along the coast. It will feel noticeably less warm. The maximum temperature will be 20 °C.

08:45am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: Motorists should be aware of the A1 Western Bypass Allerdene Bridge Works which are on-going at the moment and could cause delays during peak times.

08:54am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: There are temporary lane closures on the A194 Jarrow Road roundabout in South Shields for drainage works, local delays are likely.

09:00am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: There has been an accident on the Pelaw Road in Chester-Le-Street at the Pelton Lane junction. This is causing some delays.

09:20am

Sarah Scott

TRAVEL: Here is another travel update, the A1231 St Michaels Way in Sunderland is busy but moving from the A183 Livingstone Road roundabout junction.

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